Team Herald
MARGAO: The Hotel and Restaurant Association - Western India (HRAWI) has issued a national advisory reaffirming that music licences are not required for marriage ceremonies and related festivities held at hotels and other hospitality establishments.
This clarification is the latest in the back-and-forth between Goa’s hospitality sector and a music licencing agency that had, in a statement last week, claimed that commercial venues must secure music licences for all events involving profit, including wedding-related gigs, corporate events, celebrity events, social events and birthday parties and anniversary parties among others.
HRAWI has confirmed that Section 52(1)(za) of the Copyright Act, 1957, which exempts marriages and associated celebrations from music licencing requirements, remains valid. The association emphasised that any private agency demanding licencing fees for such events is acting contrary to the law.
“We have received reports of private agencies misleading hotels and guests regarding the need for music licences at marriages and related festivities. Some are misinterpreting the Hon’ble Goa High Court Order dated 13 August 2024 and the DPIIT Public Notice dated 7 November 2024 to claim that the exemption is no longer valid. This is incorrect. Section 52(1)(za) remains intact,” stated Pradeep Shetty, Secretary and Spokesperson of HRAWI.
HRAWI clarified that a Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notice from 24 July 2023 affirmed the exemption for marriage-related festivities. While a subsequent notice dated 7 November 2024 placed the earlier notice under abeyance, HRAWI stressed that these notices were merely explanatory and did not create new legal obligations.
“Even the Goa High Court Order does not nullify the exemption. The law is clear: marriages and related festivities are not subject to licencing requirements or royalty payments for music,” added Nirav Gandhi, Senior Vice President of HRAWI.